It really is case-by-case, Nicole. It can't hurt to try.
For example, Chrizzle mentions that petites won't work if your shoulders are wide. Generally speaking, I think she's right.
But my shoulders are quite wide for my height (39 inches, and I am 5'4" tall) and petite tops DO work fine for me. It suspect that is because, while wide, my shoulders are not DEEP, if that makes sense. I'm not a true IT...there's not a lot of flesh up there. And also, I have a small bust. And short arms.
I am also short waisted so I find petite tops and jackets tend to work best....and sometimes, but not always, dresses. Bit I can sometimes wear a regular top just fine. And European sizes (in tops, jackets, dresses) are actually best of all for me - esp. French and Italian.
I can't wear petite trousers because the legs are too short (even though I have proportionately short legs) and the rise, especially, is too short.
Have you done Imgen's proportion exercise over on Inside Out Style? She shows you how to measure. It's possible that you are short from chin to bust, which would account for needing to alter straps - and might or might not put you in the petites category. I'm actually average-to-long in the chin to bust measurement, but short from bust to waist.